Period antique China trade oil on canvas of the merchant ship Southern Cross of Liverpool, circa 1857, H. Manly, Commander. This particular type of sailing ship is called a barque. It is shown sailing into Hong Kong port with Hawks Peak in the background. The barque has gun ports painted on its sides, although it does not have any cannon. These ships were so painted to deceive marauding pirates. If pirates believed a ship was manned with cannon, they were were much less likely to attack it. This painting has been cleaned and mounted in a period appropriate museum copy frame and museum stretcher.